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QSilver7

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I just purchased a 2001 530i. The keyless entry doesnt work. None of the buttons.
When I use the key in the door it does lock and unlock all doors, and beeps to sound the alarm.

I have tried the following.
Turn key to position 1 (for less then 5 secs)
Take key out
Hold near rear view mirror
Press and hold unlock button while pressing lock button 3 times
door locks do not cycle

i have also tried turning key to position 2. nothing
i have tried turning on and off 5 times fast. nothing
i have tried holding the lock button and pressing unlock button 3 times. nothing

i have basically tried every possible sequence of the above

The fuel door DOES NOT lock when doors are locked. I looked at fuse #53 and it was blown.
I replaced it.
tried all different sequences again.
nothing.
Checked the fuse and its fine.
Disconnected fuel actuator.
Tried all sequences again.
Nothing.

I even had te key charging in the ACC position for 4 hours last night. I would let it sit, go turn over the engine every 20-40 mins.

Hmmm, it could be lots of things...but when weird electrical things that seem unrelated occur...the first place I look is the battery. Check it out (or have it checked) to make sure that it is keeping a charge...or that the voltage isn't dropping below normal capacity.

If you unlocked your instrument cluster...you could run TEST 9 to see if the battery voltage has dropped below 11.8 volts. At 11.8 volts, your battery is at 0% "state of charge". Which does NOT mean that the battery is totally dead...there will still be residual power to run the lights, dash, horn etc. You can also take the car to many of the automotive stores like Batteries Plus, AutoZone, Advance Auto, Pep Boys, O'Reilly's etc...and they will usually have a machine that can test your alternator and battery to see if they are charging etc.

If the battery/alternator appear to be okay after checking them out...then you may want to check your ignition switch....which is another component that can create strange electrical behavior from multiple areas when it starts to fail. Check out this link: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...77&postcount=7

Check out the two suggestions above to see if they may be the problem. But again, it could be other things...as well as multiple issues occurring at the same time

Hi i have a question for you you seem to know alot about the bmws.....
I have a 97 528i as im driving the hazard lights come on amd th doors unlock on there own. Them the central locking button dont work to lock the doors again till latercanyou help me.....

Somethings not right in your description of issues...the little fan inside the IHKA shuts off when the car goes to sleep after 16 minutes of inactivity from anything on the P-bus (door handles, locks, windows, etc). It shouldn't be the culprit of a dead battery because as long as the key isn't in the ignition and the doors opened etc. ...it should shut down after 16 minutes of inactivity. You can test this by rolling the windows down, parking in a quiet spot, and coming back AFTER 16 minutes. Don't lock the car because you will set off the interior motion sensor when you come back and lean into the car to listen to see if the little fan in the IHKA control panel is running. REMEMBER...DO NOT lift the door handle or operate any of the windows...NOR...press any of the buttons on your remote key. So basically, if you come back to the car AFTER 16 minutes and the little light is illuminated next to the gear shift lever, then the car did NOT shut down (go to sleep)....wait until that light goes off, then listen to see if the fan is still running.

A failing FSU/FSR that controls the HVAC blower will/can continue to run when the car is off and parked etc...and can drain a battery. And if you have the AUTO cliimate control IHKA panel...if the word "AUTO" appears in the fan speed control display above the little "dashes"...the car will automatically operate the fan speed control. If you only see the "dashes" in the fan speed display...then you have it set to manual fan speed control. This could be why the speed changes and you haven't "touched" anything on the panel.

These instructions are from my e38 owners manual...but the text is the SAME in the e39:

Hi Q
Thanks for the advice, as for the A/C unit when the car if off its doesnt blow any air ( no fan running ). Only when the car is running that it will sometimes come on without me hitting any buttons. I guess it's something I should get looked at but as I had mentioned it wasnt a big concern.
I am thinking its the little fan you mention because when I didnt drive the car for about four to five days I found the battery dead. Would buying a new A/C panel for the car solve this problem or is it something more I should get looking at ? I see on ebay I can pick one up for about 130.00
Thanks again Robert

If your HVAC fan is working intermittantly...you really need to check (search) to see if you need to replace your FSR/FSU (final stage resistor/final stage unit...it gets called by both names). Letting that go could leave you stranded...because if the HVAC's fan continues to run all night & day...it can drain your battery.

There is also a small fan inside the IHKA panel (AC/Heat control panel) that draws air in across a thermister...this is how the IHKA system regulates the temp you have set. This fan is connected to the P-bus which is a system in the car attached to the door modules...so anytime you activate the door locks/windows/sunroof etc...the P-bus "awakes" and stands ready for your entry. The way to know when the P-bus is activated and the car is "awake"...is when you see the little orange light illuminated next to your gearshift handle.

I can't tell from what you wrote as to if what you were hearing was the little fan inside the IHKA panel...or if your HVAC systems blower fan was still running because your FSR/FSU has failed.

Hi Q
Need your advice again lol. I noticed after I turned the car off and was cleaning the inside I think I hear a fan going on and off ever so slightly ???? My A/C has been acting up where it will come on or off intermittently when the car is on and I have been able to live with it. This sound is so faint I really wasn't sure if it was coming from the car ????? but I belive it is. Any ideas ????? or fixes ???
Thanks again
Robert